Tonight is the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. The fact that there might be some of you reading this who have no idea what that is doesn’t surprise me. It bothers me, but it’s doesn’t surprise me.
The Jewish people have been around forever. Yes, it’s true. There were Jews long (long) before there were Christians. Still…. in 2011 we are the minority. We will be celebrating the New Year 5772 at the start of sundown tonight and will continue to observe the Jewish New Year through Friday at sundown. How will we observe? We observe the holiday (part of the High Holidays, so you know they are pretty important) by attending services at Temple (or shul or synogogue) and spending time with our families (and eating a lot). The “High Holidays” consist of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I’ll do a separate post on Yom Kippur because that warrants a stand-alone post.
When I was growing up, we ALWAYS took the two days of Rosh Hashanah off from school, from work, from anything secular, and attended services. It was never much of an issue because I grew up in a city with lots of Jewish people. The teachers and schools knew that the Jewish kids just wouldn’t be there during that time. No biggie.
My kids are growing up in an entirely different climate. We no longer live in Connecticut… we live in a city in California where there are much (much) less Jewish people. And the ones that are here are much (much) less religious than the ones I knew growing up.
We had parent/teacher conferences last week at my kids’ school. At that time, I informed all the teachers that my kids wouldn’t be in class this Thursday. They would be attending Rosh Hashanah services. I got a lot of comments like, “Of course, absolutely.” “I respect your beliefs.” “I’ll cut back on the homework for those nights.” “Have a happy holiday.”
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Then why did my daughter come home from school complaining that the very Thursday that she will be missing classes, her teachers are giving several important tests? YES, I realize my daughters will probably be the ONLY kids not in school that day. BUT… Tests? Tests that my child is now going to have to make up on her own time? How is that fair?
I mentioned before that we celebrate Rosh Hashanah for two days. In my family, this year, we will only be celebrating for one day. Why? Because the world we live in just doesn’t stand still for our Jewish observances. As a country, we completely shut down for Christmas and Easter. We recognize the importance of those holidays for society. The majority of society. My husband has to take off a day of work - a day that he doesn’t get paid for. My kids have to miss a day of learning - one that they’ll have to make up. School policy states that if you take off for religious holidays you don’t get marked absent. Then why have my kids been marked absent every single year that they have taken off a religious holiday?
Yes, the fact that you don’t know what Rosh Hashanah is doesn’t surprise me.
Yes, it bothers the hell out of me.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I know! We are celebrating Rosh Hashanah tonight too. I told my child’s teacher and she said, “Okay. But we have lots of things to do that day.” I was pissed. My kid can’t get off ONE day of the whole school year. Nice. But she is missing out tomorrow only. We go to Tesoro.
I went into the office of our school today to let them know my kids won’t be in class tomorrow. The secretary asked me if I was taking them to Disneyland. I said “No, it’s a religious holiday.” She laughed like I was making it up and I said, “No, it really IS a religious holiday.” She asked me what holiday. Unbelievable! She works in a school and had no idea it was Rosh Hashanah.
I also seem to recall back in the 1970′s in Connecticut that the Jewish holidays were observed in the school calendar (meaning there was no school on those days).
Now I live in North Carolina (a predominantly ‘Christian’ state). There are very, very few Jewish families that I know of.
The Wake County public schools observe ‘winter break’ at the end of December. Our spring break happens to be the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. There are actual families that do not observe Halloween (because of religious beliefs) and will actually shut off their lights on 10/31. No Halloween parties or Costume parades are allowed in the schools. The churches host Fall Harvest events. If you are a devoted to your religion it seems that you would have your children attend a religious-based school. Religion is a choice and whether or not you observe is up to you.
According to the Wake County handbook, “An absence is excused if the following conditions exist:…F. Religious observance, as suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s parents…For all absences, the student shall make up all work in a timely manner at the convenience of the teacher. The make-up work may be specific material missed by the student, reinforcement, or enrichment…If the absence is approved in advance and/or if the work is assigned by the teacher in advance, all make-up work, including tests assigned for the day of return, is due upon the student’s return to school.”
Check you school systems’ student/parent handbook to check their policy on attendance.
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@Carolyn: Wow. They looked confused when I told my kid’s teacher too. Ugh!
Oh well… I guess that’s life in Santa Clarita.
Yep!